On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 210: #World’s Strongest Hunter (4)

Igis Sotiropoulou stepped onto the arena. She pulled back her hood and unraveled the bandage that covered her eyes.

The audience let out a clear, loud gasp.

“Wow, what a beauty! Was Hunter Igis always this pretty?!”

“She’s like a Greek Goddess...”

“Ugh, but why am I getting the chills?”

Those with keen senses shivered at the sudden chills. Indeed, Igis had a mysterious charm, like that of a colorful, poisonous mushroom.

[Silently Crawling Nightmare argues that she’s far more beautiful than that snake bitch.]

Wow, it’d been a while since my stalkers responded. I thought she’d be watching over the main body?

[Silently Crawling Nightmare shyly admits she has a thing for bad boys.]

[All-Cutting Heavenly Sword says fights are the best show, and that it’d be more entertaining to watch you than that trash movie.]

Well, I don’t care as long as they don’t interrupt me.

The MC yelled into the microphone with an exaggerated hand gesture, “Hunter Igis Sotiropulou will be fighting in the ninth match between Greece and South Korea! She’s an S-rank Creation-type Hunter who specializes in support, and has been crafting armor and equipment for Team Greece!

“Ever since the great disappearance case of S-rank Creation-type Hunters from across the globe, Hunter Igis had been receiving offers from various countries! However, out of patriotism for her home country, she turned all of them down! As such, no one could’ve imagined that she’d be chosen to represent Hunter Greece in this final match! Now, we shall see which country will advance to round 32!

“Standing against her is Yu Il-Shin, the top rookie S-rank Hunter with four consecutive victories. Will Hunter Igis, a known support-type Hunter, defy expectations and prevail? The eyes of the world are on this match as it begins now!”

“Tsk.”

Was the MC going to ramble forever?

“Open Hunter Shop. Summon Staff of Amplification.”

Just then, the space around Igis ripped apart, revealing a strange staff with seven snake heads, resembling Hydra. She grabbed the staff with both hands, then pointed it at me.

“If you survived my Petrifying Gaze, no other petty tricks would work on you.”

Hiss—

Black, snake-head-like streams flowed out from the staff, wrapping themselves around Igis.

Ruuuumble!

At the same time, the colosseum shook as if hit by an earthquake.

“So, I’ll bet everything on this one attack, using half of Greece’s treasury.”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Haha! Great! Go for it!”

Bam! Bam bam!

Soon, Igis’ dark aura covered the arena floor, turning it into a dark basalt. Stalactite-like columns rose from the grounds. Since yesterday, I’d been suspecting it was a god’s power, albeit sealed and weakened.

[All-Cutting Heavenly Sword explains that some gods who lost in a Sacrificial War are exiled to bordering worlds. For example, the Three Martial Gods were sent to the martial world. This girl seemed to carry a faint inheritance of a fallen god.]

So, she’s a descendant of an exiled god.

However, her snake staff had offset that penalty.

“Interesting.”

Igis’ divine power was equivalent to that of a Mid-tier God.

Then, the snake-haired woman I saw yesterday was reflected within Igis’ reptilian eyes.

“Medusa’s Gaze!”

Hearing her command, the snake woman hissed sinisterly.

-One step closer to the contract.

Igis’ eyes glowed red.

Riiip!

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The invisible barrier surrounding the arena suddenly turned to stone.

“Huh?!”

“Organizing committee! Quick, repair the barrier!”

To ordinary people, it’d seem like a random event, but I could see everything.

Hiss! Hiss!

Millions of snakes emerged from the sky and ground, slithering in all directions. Everything that touched their scales turned to stone—a manifestation of Medusa’s Gaze.

-Kiiieeek!

I aimed Demon Lord at the tidal wave of snakes that washed over me. Personally, it was a golden opportunity, since I’d been meaning to test something.

“Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword, Ultimate Stance.”

It was the same move that the main body had used to kill Sun God. As if I could tolerate the fact that I was inferior to that fool! Whatever he could do, I could do too—no, I could probably surpass him.

The heavenly sword I’d wielded hundreds of millions of times in my consciousness descended to reality through Demon Lord.

“Demon Lord’s Disintegration!”

Demon Lord rended the world.

Swish swish swish swish...

The snakes that attacked me were decapitated like Issac. I wasn’t done—my sword reduced everything into nothingness.

Psss...

The exiled god’s divine power, the petrified invisible barrier, and Igis’ staff had all crumbled to dust.

The MC, audience, and every single human watching the Hunter War were momentarily speechless.

Tsk. Still incomplete?

My right hand trembled as I held onto Demon Lord. Although my divine power surpassed the main body’s, the skill consumed more than I expected. Worse, its prowess fell far short of expectations. I’d witnessed how a certain knight cut down the God of Destroyer, who was as vast as the universe. Compared to him, I still had a long way to go.

I had to hone my skills further. Training would be the best method.

“What’s the matter?” I looked at Igis, who was staring incredulously at her empty hand. “Don’t you have one more left?”

Igis paled at my words, as if her secret had just been uncovered, and cold sweat trickled down her face.

“I exhausted my divine power in that last attack, so your eyes might work on me now. C’mon, do it again.”

I held Demon Lord on my side, prepared to use Demon Lord’s Disintegration again.

Plop!

However, Igis fell on her knees, clutching her head in her hands.

“I-I... will surrender... There is no way in hell I can win you... O’ great one. P-please show mercy...”

“What?”

What the heck? That was anticlimactic as hell!

The MC announced the score with a gleeful look, “The winner of the ninth match between Greece and South Korea is Hunter Yu Il-Shin! With that, I hereby declare that South Korea has advanced to round 32 of the Hunter War!”

Led by Sung Mi-ri, my followers rushed toward me alongside Team Korea.

“Mr. Yu! You did amazing!”

“Hahaha! As expected of Mr. Sword God! What an incredible sword technique! Such a magnificent Sword God you are!”

“I didn’t trust you for nothing, Hunter Yu!”

They began tossing me up into the air. Even the expressionless Gal Joong-Hyuk was smiling.

Hmph. Simpletons.

I crossed my arms, clicking my tongue. Why were they this happy when it was just an advancement from round 64?

“Waaaaaaah!”

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd as well.

“Incredible! We might have a new winner this year!”

“W-what’s that Hunter’s name?”

“The One and Only God!”

“Holy shit! What a great name!”

“Only God! Only God!”

Tzzz!

As the audience chanted my name in unison, I emitted a faint white light. I recognized the power as similar to the Faith my followers surging within me.

They’re useful indeed.

Human faith was the source of divine power, and I’d only grow stronger as the Hunter War progressed.

Are you watching this, Mad Clown? I’m alive and well. Show yourself if you dare. Even if you’re a High-tier God, I’ll kill you! I’ll make sure of it!

“Only God! Only God!”

***

The world buzzed with excitement over Yu Il-Shin, the mysterious Korean Hunter who won five consecutive matches and crushed Team Greece in the Hunter War. In South Korea, the frenzy was even more intense. With the Hunter Protection Act shielding his identity and his ever-present helmet, speculation ran wild.

Rumors swirled that he was a hermit, a mentor to S-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Ri, and a close acquaintance of the legendary Choi Kang-San. On top of that, he even had a cult worshiping him.

The most outrageous rumor claimed he was a web novelist with an ongoing serial.

~

Back in Rocky Media, a leading South Korean web novel publisher...

That day, the employees who’d usually be hard at work were all gathered in front of the television, waiting for the Hunter War quarterfinals (Round of 8).

The screen showed the MC yelling with a red face.

「The Hunter War quarterfinals between South Korea and France is about to begin! Let’s see if South Korea is able to make it to the quarterfinals!」

Team Korea had reached the quarterfinals at the Hunter War. Despite the brief crisis in round 64, Hunter Yu Il-Shin’s miraculous five-match win streak paved the way for a continued streak of victories.

“Isn’t Hunter Sung Mi-Na just as amazing?! Goddamn! She single-handedly defeated both Team Brazil and Argentina! Her SS-rank license has also been secured! South Korea might be able to win this year!”

“But when is the chicken coming?”

“Why are you bringing up the chicken now?”

“Hey, it’s a national rule to have chi-maek[1] during these matches!”

“What’s wrong with Team Leader? Does he have something against the television?”

The team snuck glances at their team leader, who silently glared at the screen as if he was about to eat it whole.

“He said something absurd yesterday, about how Hunter Yu Il-Shin is the same Writer Yu Il-Shin we know...”

“Oh, the one who went AWOL? Ey, I know him as well! He’s just a weak guy, ain’t no way he’s a Hunter with that body. Maybe the Team Leader is overworked? Such nonsense...”

Yu Il-Shin’s editor-in-charge was Team Leader Lee. He’d been observing all the matches Team Korea was in ever since he saw Yu Il-Shin partake in round 64 by chance.

I’m sure it’s him!

Others probably couldn’t tell, but Team Leader Lee had been working together with Yu Il-Shin for a decade. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize his business partner!

Unfortunately, Yu Il-Shin hadn’t joined a single match since his first appearance. The other Hunters in the roster, especially Sung Mi-Na, had been performing so well that there wasn’t a need for him to step up.

However, they were going up against Team France today. They were a crowd favorite and past finalist—a top contender for the Hunter War title. Team Leader Lee was certain that Yu Il-Shin would be added to the lineup.

「The first match of the quarterfinals will be between South Korea and France. France’s pride, SS-rank Hunter Zan Le Mang, versus South Korea’s SS-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Na, who had single-handedly defeated Brazil and Argentina!」

Zan Le Mang, a black, bob-haired woman with a sword taller than herself, and Sung Mi-Na, a petite woman with cat-like beauty, stepped onto the arena. Sung Mi-Na was likely no match for Zan Le Mang, who had fought in the Despair Dragon subjugation. Nevertheless, Sung Mi-Na was still a top contender due to her ten-match win streak across two tournaments.

The match resulted in Sung Mi-Na’s crushing defeat.

「No way! This match proved that Hunter Sung Mi-Na’s psychic abilities didn’t work on those who were of the same rank and above! Hunter Zan Le Mang’s next opponent will be... Oh! It’s Hunter Yu Il-Shin, who performed a great miracle against Team Greece! Attention, everyone from South Korea! Hunter Yu Il-Shin is entering the arena!」

Finally!

As Team Leader Lee stared at the screen, his eyes grew wider than ever, almost popping out of their sockets. At long last, he could see Yu Il-Shin in a match!

The man in the black helmet—now his trademark—stepped into the arena, where his opponent, Zan Le Mang, awaited.

Yet, everyone’s eyes—even Zan Le Mang herself—grew wide in puzzlement.

「A-are you really Hunter Yu Il-Shin?」

The kid in black helmet nodded in response.

「Des...troy!」

1. The famous meal combination of fried chicken and beer. ☜